Review of Deer Riders

This review actually concentrates on the mounts, because this is a blog dedicated to War of the Ring and not Warhammer.

The box cost me circa 260 SEK, bought at a store in Stockholm and contained, except for three sprues and five bases, the little pamphlet below:

As most cavalry sets for Warhammer, there are five models in the box. They come with the regular cavalry bases, the rectangular ones. We can also find very detailed instructions on how to assemble the two different variants of the models. Superfluous, in my opinion - it is not difficult to assemble them - but I am going to kit-bash and convert the shit out of these, so what do I know or care?

Mouldlines are okay - however (as with Tuvok on the Voyager, there is always a "however" on this blog), in an unusual turn of events, these particular models actually had some mouldlines that was notable: This early in production, I have noted that the mouldlines typically are small to almost non-existant, but with these sprues this was not the case. Granted, the sprues might very well have already gotten a slight wear by the time these particular models were cast. Or, the moulds are perhaps so demanding in their construction, that notable mouldlines are to be expected?

As a sidenote, the worst mouldlines I've ever experienced stands in a tie between some Zvedza-models in 1:72-scale and in the infamous polyethylene-plastic (the kind that buckets are made of) and, surprisingly enough: Games Workshop's Warriors of Minas Tirith, from our beloved Lord of the Rings-line, the WoMT:s actually looked like cheap counterfeits, with the mouldlines as grave as it almost looked like a miscast.

Sidenotes aside: These models are dynamic. Earlier, I sculpted a little stag. That stag was a static stag. These models are not static, no, they are full of life, well sculpted and have correct proportions - all in +32 mm scale. Games Workshop have, as some of us suspected a few years ago (after the influence of the Lord of the Rings-line), slowly made some great progress ever so slightly from the super-cartoony to a more "realistic cartoony" look. These stags are simply put great!

For the riders, you will have to go to another blogger or reviewer, as I am very biased against the typical look of humans from the Warhammer-world. Very much too gay for me, with the big muscles and homo-erotic overcompensating looks on their faces. Some actually look like they've got a broom up their bum. Again, I am not a good reviewer on WHFB-men, so go someplace else for a fair treatment on these.

What I can review, though, are the bits and pieces: The selections and designs are more than okay. While it is very possible that the pinecone-inspired helmets on the riders of the Wild Riders might be offputting to some, they still are well done and works well with the theme, without going over the "bordering to hyper-kitsch"-edge. Warhammer is about stereotypes and obvious themes, which is what draws the fans of that particular hobby to it, so there's nothing more to say except for: Thumbs up for pinecone-heads.

When cleaning mouldlines, I had some problems with some small parts on the deers: Tiny plastic thingies (looking like some sort of straps or ends of reins or similar) that were very difficult to clean without destroying totally. Be careful when filing or scraping these little pieces.

Lastly, the price. I am not going to say much about this. I payed around 50 SEK for each deer and I find it acceptable. If you play Warhammer, you'll get a whole rider for 50 SEK and parts to make some extra stuff, if you have some spare mounts laying around. Obviously, the price was fine with me, since I bought it.


Sprues: 5/5.
Mouldlines: 4/5.
Bits: 4/5.
Rider design: 4/5.
Mount design: 5/5.
Price: 4/5.

Total points: 21.5 out 25 possible points, so a strong 4 (out of 5 in total).